IAS Officer Who Faced 57 Transfers Bids Adieu

A senior IAS officer who is known for his integrity was transferred nearly 57 times in his entire career. He is all set to retire today from the role of Additional Chief Secretary of the Transport Department. He has been in the position since 2024. The officer gained immense spotlight in the year 2012 when he raised a mutiny against a land acquisition owned by Robert Vadra, a relative of Sonia Gandhi Vadra. Mutations play a vital role in land ownership.

The career graph of the officer is quite drastic as he has been transferred nearly 57 times, which accounts for once every six months. He was reassigned to the transport department and was working under Minister Anil Vij. He also worked as a Transport Commissioner during the era of Manohar Lal Khattar. He had worked for only 4 months in his previous role.

In the past 12 years, he was transferred multiple times, and many times he was given a low profile. He has furthermore worked as Director General and Principal Secretary in various roles. In 2023, he requested to step up with the State Vigilance system as he wanted to root out corruption from various departments. In his letter, he informed about the loopholes in the system and how some officers have nothing to do apart from handling the corrupt system and the process.

"Lopsided distribution of work does not serve public interest. Towards the end of my service career, I offer my services to head the vigilance department to root out corruption. "If given an opportunity, I assure you there would be a real war against corruption and no one, however high and mighty, will be spared,"

Two years ago, Khemka was promoted, and on his tweet, he mentioned that “Congratulations to my batchmates newly appointed as Secretaries to GOI! While this is an occasion for merry, it brings an equal measure of despondency for one, having been left behind.” He further added that “Straight trees are always cut first. No regrets. With renewed resolve, I shall persist”.

Born in Kolkata in the year 1965, Khemka completed his graduation in Applied Computer Science and Engineering from IIT Kharagpur. He is also a Ph.D. holder from the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research. He also ensured that He also holds a specialisation in Business Administration and Finance. His dedication towards knowledge further led him to obtain an LLB Degree from Punjab University. Despite his troubled career, he has worked as one of the most popular officers, known specifically for his integrity and passion for honesty.